Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 14010
Submitted: February 6, 2026 at 3:36:11 PM
First Name: Michael
Last Name: Wall
Pronoun: He/Him
Preferred Name: Michael
Student Number: 20492303
Email: 24hbt@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: DEVS
Level of Study: 2
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Request to take more than 6.0 units of courses on a letter of permission through another institution
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,
I am writing to formally petition for an exception to the 6.0-unit maximum for courses taken elsewhere via a Letter of Permission (LOP), as outlined in Academic Regulation 14.1. I am requesting permission to complete 30.0 units at Athabasca University over the next three terms to facilitate my early graduation and subsequent entry into the Queen’s Consecutive Education program in May 2027.
I. Basis for Exception - Extenuating Circumstances and Unique Learning Opportunity: My request is based on a combination of geographic barriers and professional necessity that meet the criteria for an exception under Faculty regulations:
Geographic Barrier and Time Management: Residing in South Frontenac, approximately one hour from campus, requires a daily commute of 2.5 hours when factoring in travel and parking. This geographic distance presents a significant barrier to my ability to maintain on-campus study while managing my household and familial responsibilities.
Unique Academic Delivery: The individualized, asynchronous online delivery provided by Athabasca University offers an exceptional learning experience not available through Queen’s for these specific courses. This flexibility is essential for me to accelerate my degree progress without the logistical constraints of a fixed Kingston-based schedule.
Professional Urgency: As a 24-year-old mature student and recently married, I am eager to enter the teaching profession, a high-need field in Ontario. Granting this exception allows me to graduate a year early, enabling me to begin my professional training at the Queen’s Faculty of Education sooner.
II. Academic Viability and Plan: I have taken the following steps to ensure my plan adheres to all academic standards:
Departmental Support: I have secured the formal support of my Undergraduate Chair, Dr. Paritosh Kumar, and have reached out to applicable departments to confirm that the 30.0 units are academic equivalents in both weight and content.
Alignment with Degree Requirements: I have attached a refined Academic Plan that details how each course fulfills my Major, Minor, and Teaching Subject prerequisites.
Core Credit Commitment: I intend to complete my senior-level core courses (DEVS 302/340 and DEVS 492/493) at Queen’s University to maintain my strong connection to the institution.
III. Eligibility Confirmation: I currently meet all non-petitionable eligibility criteria: I am in Good Academic Standing (GPA > 1.90), have completed at least 6.0 units at Queen’s, and have no more than 3.0 units of incomplete (IN) grades .
Thank you for your consideration of this petition to help me balance my academic goals with my commitment to my family and future career in education.
Sincerely,
Michael Wall
Student ID: 20492303
I am writing to formally petition for an exception to the 6.0-unit maximum for courses taken elsewhere via a Letter of Permission (LOP), as outlined in Academic Regulation 14.1. I am requesting permission to complete 30.0 units at Athabasca University over the next three terms to facilitate my early graduation and subsequent entry into the Queen’s Consecutive Education program in May 2027.
I. Basis for Exception - Extenuating Circumstances and Unique Learning Opportunity: My request is based on a combination of geographic barriers and professional necessity that meet the criteria for an exception under Faculty regulations:
Geographic Barrier and Time Management: Residing in South Frontenac, approximately one hour from campus, requires a daily commute of 2.5 hours when factoring in travel and parking. This geographic distance presents a significant barrier to my ability to maintain on-campus study while managing my household and familial responsibilities.
Unique Academic Delivery: The individualized, asynchronous online delivery provided by Athabasca University offers an exceptional learning experience not available through Queen’s for these specific courses. This flexibility is essential for me to accelerate my degree progress without the logistical constraints of a fixed Kingston-based schedule.
Professional Urgency: As a 24-year-old mature student and recently married, I am eager to enter the teaching profession, a high-need field in Ontario. Granting this exception allows me to graduate a year early, enabling me to begin my professional training at the Queen’s Faculty of Education sooner.
II. Academic Viability and Plan: I have taken the following steps to ensure my plan adheres to all academic standards:
Departmental Support: I have secured the formal support of my Undergraduate Chair, Dr. Paritosh Kumar, and have reached out to applicable departments to confirm that the 30.0 units are academic equivalents in both weight and content.
Alignment with Degree Requirements: I have attached a refined Academic Plan that details how each course fulfills my Major, Minor, and Teaching Subject prerequisites.
Core Credit Commitment: I intend to complete my senior-level core courses (DEVS 302/340 and DEVS 492/493) at Queen’s University to maintain my strong connection to the institution.
III. Eligibility Confirmation: I currently meet all non-petitionable eligibility criteria: I am in Good Academic Standing (GPA > 1.90), have completed at least 6.0 units at Queen’s, and have no more than 3.0 units of incomplete (IN) grades .
Thank you for your consideration of this petition to help me balance my academic goals with my commitment to my family and future career in education.
Sincerely,
Michael Wall
Student ID: 20492303
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: My plan for achieving academic success involves a strategic reallocation of time and a disciplined study schedule to manage an increased course load of 30.0 units. While this load is significant, the transition to individualized online study through Athabasca University creates the following
Documentation
Professional Letter: Official Support From Undergraduate Chair.pdf
Document: Academic Plan-11.pdf
Documentation Detail: Official academic plan
Document: DEVS Course Equivelencies Letter.pdf
Documentation Detail: Course equivalency confirmation - DEVS
Document: SOCY Course Equivalency.pdf
Documentation Detail: Course equivalency confirmation - SOCY
Document: GPHY Course Equivalency.pdf
Documentation Detail: Course equivalency confirmation - GPHY (Multiple email threads)
Decision Letters
Level 1 Status
Status: Partial GrantLevel 2
Appeal Type: Level 2
ID: 354
Submitted: March 16, 2026 at 10:01:05 AM
Relevant Petition: 14010
Decision(s) Being Appealed: Request to take more than 6.0 units of courses on a letter of permission through another institution
Appeal Grounds
Appeals to the Board of Studies must include a letter based on one or more of the Grounds for Appeal (Appeal Regulation 3.4). What are the grounds you are basing your appeal on?
- The Associate Dean's decision did not follow the rules of procedural fairness. A breach of procedural fairness includes such things as the Associate Dean failed to:
- Make a reasonable decision in your appeal. A “reasonable” decision is one that is based on evidence, thought out and supported by facts and logical inferences from the facts. To be reasonable, the decision must contain adequate reasons for the conclusions.
Appeal Grounds Details: I am appealing on the grounds that the Associate Dean's decision regarding the 21.0 units of
Appeal Letter
Appeal Letter: Date: March 16, 2026
Student Name: Michael Wall
Student ID: 20492303
Original Decision Date: March 9, 2026 (Associate Dean Dorit Naaman)
Dear Members of the Board of Studies,
I am writing to appeal the recent decision regarding my petition for an exception to the 6.0-unit maximum for courses taken via a Letter of Permission (LOP). While I appreciate the Associate Dean granting 9.0 units for the Summer 2026 term, I am submitting this appeal with a newly revised academic plan that resolves the workload concerns raised in the original decision and clarifies the professional necessity of the remaining 21.0 LOP units.
I am requesting permission to complete a total of 30.0 units at Athabasca University alongside 30.0 units at Queen’s University, distributed evenly and exclusively across the Fall and Winter terms of the next two academic years.
Resolution of the Course Load Limit (Timeline Extension)
In the initial decision, the Associate Dean rightly pointed out that completing my remaining 60.0 units over the next three terms would violate the 18.0-unit maximum per term. To ensure absolute compliance with Faculty workload regulations and to protect my academic standing, I have extended my graduation timeline to Spring 2028 (targeting the May 2028 Consecutive Education intake). By spreading the remaining 60.0 units strictly over four terms (Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Fall 2027, and Winter 2028), I will be taking exactly 15.0 units per term. This constitutes a standard, manageable full-time load and completely eliminates the need for any course overload exceptions.
Professional Prerequisites vs.
Student Name: Michael Wall
Student ID: 20492303
Original Decision Date: March 9, 2026 (Associate Dean Dorit Naaman)
Dear Members of the Board of Studies,
I am writing to appeal the recent decision regarding my petition for an exception to the 6.0-unit maximum for courses taken via a Letter of Permission (LOP). While I appreciate the Associate Dean granting 9.0 units for the Summer 2026 term, I am submitting this appeal with a newly revised academic plan that resolves the workload concerns raised in the original decision and clarifies the professional necessity of the remaining 21.0 LOP units.
I am requesting permission to complete a total of 30.0 units at Athabasca University alongside 30.0 units at Queen’s University, distributed evenly and exclusively across the Fall and Winter terms of the next two academic years.
Resolution of the Course Load Limit (Timeline Extension)
In the initial decision, the Associate Dean rightly pointed out that completing my remaining 60.0 units over the next three terms would violate the 18.0-unit maximum per term. To ensure absolute compliance with Faculty workload regulations and to protect my academic standing, I have extended my graduation timeline to Spring 2028 (targeting the May 2028 Consecutive Education intake). By spreading the remaining 60.0 units strictly over four terms (Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Fall 2027, and Winter 2028), I will be taking exactly 15.0 units per term. This constitutes a standard, manageable full-time load and completely eliminates the need for any course overload exceptions.
Professional Prerequisites vs.
Documentation
Document: Daily One-Way Commute.png
Document: Queens Online Course Search.pdf
Document: Degree Plan.pdf
Document: Teachable Requirements-0.pdf
History
Originally submitted February 6, 2026 at 3:36:11 PM.
| Field | Reference | Old Value | New Value | Note | User | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| status | N/A | Received | In Review | Kerri Andrews | 2026-02-23 3:00:05 PM | |
| status | N/A | In Review | Partial Grant | Kerri Andrews | 2026-03-09 4:40:25 PM | |
| associate_dean | N/A | Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic) | Kerri Andrews | 2026-03-09 4:40:25 PM | ||
| decision_letter | N/A | N/A | Decision letter sent | Kerri Andrews | 2026-03-09 4:42:40 PM | |
| new_appeal_level_2 | N/A | Level 2 | Level 2 Appeal ID: 354 | 24hbt | 2026-03-16 10:01:05 AM | |
| status | N/A | Received | In Review | Kathrine Scott | 2026-03-16 11:39:25 AM | |
| status | N/A | In Review | Denied | DENIED ADDITIONAL 21 UNITS ON LOP | Kathrine Scott | 2026-04-30 2:35:24 PM |